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Sebastian sat quietly in the church basement, still wearing his jacket. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to keep it on because chilly, winter air was lingering in the old building or if it somehow kept him safely distant from the group, not quite settling into the conversation at hand. He picked up his paper cup filled with warm coffee and looked again at the sheet of paper lying on the table in front of him.  

He didn’t expect that in such a simple setting, he’d experience the profound grace and truth that would once again set his life on a different track.

Sebastian had grown up in Detroit, Michigan. He was the son of first-generation immigrants from Poland, and as a teenager he’d gotten involved in gangs, drug and alcohol abuse. He began to turn his life around in rehab where he met a pastor and counselor that led him to faith in Christ and set him on a new trajectory.  

A few years later, he applied for US citizenship. Then a huge curveball – his criminal record meant rejection – and it swiftly brought his life in the US to an end.  

Hurt and angry with God, he moved to Poland. There he settled into life and eventually met Gosia.  

When they first got married, they’d both said they cared about their faith. Gosia attended mass occasionally, and Sebastian went with her on major holidays, but he never felt comfortable in the large Polish Catholic churches.  

He claimed that his faith had become something more private, but he had to admit, since his radical conversion as a young man, he’d slowly become more distant from God.  

When they had kids, Gosia insisted they go to church. She asked Sebastian over and over to go with her, embarrassed and frustrated that she had to bring them alone. But the language barrier and still somewhat foreign church culture kept Sebastian from connecting deeply in the church.  

After several months locked into a cycle of arguments and frustration, Gosia saw an invitation to the English-speaking international Bible study at the new Baptist church. 

She thought this might be exactly what Sebastian needed, or at least it could be a good start. 

In the small gathering space in the basement of Szczecin Baptist Church, Lemuel tuned his guitar as he monitored his phone for new messages. He had heard back from several who typically joined the Sunday morning Bible study group, but he could never be certain how many would show. Behind him, Brittany unpacked the cake and coffee supplies. 

One year after arriving in Poland and beginning language study, their ministry looked different than they initially envisioned. They served with a Polish church, but for months, English speakers had found their way to the church and had inquired if they offered anything in English.  

After so many requests, prayer and discussion with senior pastor Robert Merecz, Lemuel and Brittany agreed to lead the international Bible study. Their plan was to open their doors to internationals who desired to connect more with a church community and study the Bible.  

To Lemuel’s surprise, several Poles who spoke English, some of whom were involved in the Polish church, began coming to the gatherings.  

Using Discovery Bible Study questions, internationals and Poles alike found themselves interacting with Scripture in a new and compelling way. 

Sebastian studied the sheet of paper as the first song finished. The ten strangers at the table around him seemed hesitant at first in their discussion, but Lemuel and Brittany encouraged open conversation and urged the group to ask questions.  

Sebastian had not had a spiritual conversation with anyone besides Gosia in years, and soon his apprehension gave way to relief.  

Sebastian said, “When I came here, it was just like, peace again. It was just that instant, I could breathe. I found people I could be honest with . . . For many years I've lived with Gosia, and it was only with her I could be honest. I had no friends I could be open with. I mean, from 2004 till now, I was basically living a, a little secret life, you know? And it's such a relief to be able to have a place to talk about God and be open and, you know, and not be judged. So that's priceless in my life.” 

Over the next several months, Sebastian experienced genuine Christian community for the first time since his rescue out of a life of drugs and alcohol 20 years prior. He saw positive changes in his outlook and his marriage, but without his family there with him, he knew the changes would not have the lasting effects he desired.  

For Gosia, the group was a huge departure from any church gathering she had attended before. She grew up in the Catholic Church and had no intention of parting from that. She had never read or studied the Bible on her own, but she still went to the group with Sebastian.  

She slowly drew closer to God and to Sebastian. They became more open within their marriage and with others who faced similar struggles in their lives. They had new ways of talking with their children about God and sharing their renewed faith with others.  

"It doesn't mean like once you are together as a marriage in a church, you don't have problems,” Gosia explained. “You do, but you see that other people have the same problems and they can solve it in a very different way – with God.” 

Having experienced genuine Christian community, Sebastian and Gosia are eager to share it with others.

They have taken the lead in hosting the group outside of official gatherings and continue to grow in their faith together. 

Lemuel and Brittany hope that the group will help bridge the gap for people like Sebastian, who live outside of their home culture and lack community, and help those like Gosia, who wanted to find a way to bring her faith to her family. 

“I wanted to describe it to my sister, 'cause she's struggling with the faith too,” Gosia said. “Whatever happens in your life – like tribulations, like everyday problems – at the end of the day, you know that there's God in your life taking care of you . . . You are not alone. There's a father in heaven that's taking care of you.” 

Since Sebastian and Gosia joined, the Bible study group continues to grow in numbers and in maturity. The Polish church has been enriched by this ministry, and all are eager to see how God will continue to use this group for His glory.  

ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.